Many decades ago I raised my hand and swore allegiance to my country.
I, as many young men and women before me had now put myself in harms way.

I, along with others now in the armed forces, had become the bulwark
between aggression and freedom.

While far at sea, standing on the front of the flight deck, with the
sea splashing against the ship's bow and the winds racing into my face
and through my hair, I turned and looked up and over my shoulder.
There high above me was the Stars and Stripes rippling and blown
straight by the wind. Each individual can only feel the feeling
at that moment.

As I got older, my active duty time was over, and it was time to leave
the Navy, leave it to a younger American to carry the standard.

When I left the Navy I became what is known as a Veteran.
The dictionary defines a veteran as (1) one who has a long
record of service in a given activity or capacity.
(2) one who has been a member of the armed forces. So it is.

The Veteran is a special breed of person; and November 11 is dedicated to this person.
On November 11 as other occasions, I display the American flag, our symbol
of freedom, but all too many do not. I look around my neighborhood, am I the
lone American? the lone Veteran? I don't think so!

These are my beliefs, of which 40 years of my life in many forms
have been dedicated to our freedom and the beliefs of others that
have put this country before them. The freedoms we all enjoy are
not available in any other country and are not to be taken lightly
as attested to by the sacrifices of others before us.

As Veterans we are no longer the front guard, as others have
taken our place. But, we are still here, trained and available
at a moment's notice if the need arises.